Cameroon: Government bans radio station; another station still banned
Reporters sans frontières (RSF) has condemned the government's shutdown of Radio Veritas, a station founded and run by Cardinal Christian Tumi, a leading critic of President Paul Biya. "We do not understand how, in the space of a few weeks, some stations have been allotted frequencies while this one has been closed down," said the organisation's secretary-general, Robert Ménard.
IFEX - News from the international freedom of expression community
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ALERT AND UPDATE - CAMEROON
18 November 2003
Government bans radio station; another station still banned
SOURCE: Reporters sans frontières (RSF), Paris
**New case and update to IFEX alerts of 19 September, 29 and 27 May 2003**
(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has condemned the government's shutdown of Radio Veritas, a
station founded and run by Cardinal Christian Tumi, a leading critic of
President Paul Biya.
"We do not understand how, in the space of a few weeks, some stations have
been allotted frequencies while this one has been closed down," said the
organisation's secretary-general, Robert Ménard.
"Veritas and Freedom FM, set up by the Le Messager media group, have been
banned because of their criticism, despite the government's technical and
legal explanations. We fear the situation will get worse as next year's
presidential election approaches," Ménard added.
Veritas, which went off the air on 15 November 2003, one day after being
banned by the Communications Ministry, had been test-broadcasting in Douala,
the country's main city, for two weeks.
Radio Freedom, founded by Le Messager press group director Pius Njawé, was
banned in May. Police put the station's equipment under seal on the eve of
its inauguration. Njawé pursued legal action to get the ban lifted, but
Communications Minister Jacques Fame Ndongo counter-sued in mid-October,
charging that Njawé had set up the station without permission. He asked the
court to officially seize Freedom FM's equipment and fine Njawé.
For further information, contact Jean-François Julliard at RSF, 5, rue
Geoffroy Marie, Paris 75009, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84 84, fax: +33 1 45
23 11 51, e-mail: [email protected], Internet: http://www.rsf.org
The information contained in this alert and update is the sole
responsibility of RSF. In citing this material for broadcast or publication,
please credit RSF.
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